We are living in a world of misinformation and information. From politics to the pandemic, it can often be hard to separate fact from fiction. Somewhere on the internet, someone is no doubt claiming that 2 + 2 = 5. Bad information predates the internet, of course, and the subject of hair loss has been the subject of myths and misconceptions for centuries.
If you are currently experiencing excessive hair loss, you may spend a lot of time trying to figure out why. There are several very real reasons you might be losing your hair, from androgenetic alopecia to stress to poor diet, among others. But there are some “causes” of hair loss that you can disregard because they are simply not true. Here are three of the most common hair loss myths and why they are bunk:
Myth #1: It’s Your Mother’s Fault
One of the most enduring myths about hair loss is that you inherit the condition from your mom’s side of the family. People grow up believing that if their mother’s male relatives are bald or have thinning hair, then hair loss is their inevitable fate as well. This is simply not the case.
The vitality and strength of your hair are indeed related to your genetics. But the genes which play a role in hair loss come from many places, including your dad’s side of the family. This “polygenic” reason for hair loss means that you should shake all the branches of your family tree if you are trying to see into the future of your hair.
Myth #2: Thinning Hair Means You Have Lots of Testosterone
While men experiencing hair loss may want to take solace in the idea that it means they have robust testosterone levels, there is simply no link between baldness and high testosterone. That said, it’s easy to see why this myth remains out there.
Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is a testosterone derivative that is, in fact, scientifically linked to hair loss. But it’s not the amount of testosterone that is the issue, but rather the level of DHT fastening to hair follicle receptors in the scalp. Typically, due to genetics or other hormonal changes, hair follicles develop a sensitivity to DHT and start to miniaturize. This process shortens the hair growth cycle and eventually causes new hairs to stop growing.
Myth #3: Hats Will Make You Bald
If wearing hats a lot caused hair loss, every baseball player would be bald. This myth is absolutely false. Wearing hats frequently will not impact the strength of your hair or accelerate the rate at which you lose hair. But if you wear extremely tight often enough, it can cause stress on your follicles and lead to a hair loss condition called traction alopecia. So it’s not the hat that is causing the problem; it’s how you wear it.
Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today
At the Miami Hair Institute, we know the truth about hair loss, and we know how to help men and women restore their hair and confidence. We will determine the actual cause of your hair loss and develop a treatment plan best suited to addressing it
To schedule your personalized hair loss evaluation, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.